Lisa Cooper Ellison

How do you write about trauma without retraumatizing yourself or your readers? 🎧 In this episode, Beth Docherty & I explore how to tell hard truths with care. #WritingCommunity #TraumaInformed #Memoir

Pinterest Is My Best-Kept Author Marketing Secret | Jane Friedman Pinterest isn’t just for recipes, DIY projects, and home decor—it’s also a goldmine for authors who understand how it really works.

You don't need followers, or a high-volume posting strategy, to meaningfully boost your work's visibility on Pinterest. I find that it's often the forgotten social media network—although as author Melissa Bourbon points out, it's not in fact social media.

Writing through pain doesn’t require brutal honesty—it requires self-trust. 🎙️ In ep. 75, Dr. Risa Ryger joins me to talk change, compassion, and the self-owned mindset. #WritingCommunity bit.ly/4kHmmn7

When to Let Go: Recognize the Point of Diminishing Returns in Revision | Jane Friedman Embrace the fact that creation is never truly finished—it’s simply released at a point where it can begin its life in the world.

“I just need to fix this one more section. Then it will be ready.”

But will it ever be ready? This is one of the most challenging questions writers face.

Seth Harwood advises.

Own the Title of Writer (Don’t Add “Aspiring”) | Jane Friedman Consciously thinking about yourself as a writer—rather than an aspiring one—is the first step toward shattering self-limiting beliefs.

We can’t confidently tell others we’re writers until we’re comfortable telling ourselves, says Lisa Fellinger.

What if rest isn’t laziness—but the key to your creative flow? On this week’s Writing Your Resilience, Jay DeMaio and I explore Qigong, nervous system healing, and writing from a place of harmony.

Centaurus A. A glowing orange region shines at the upper left corner, with dark brown and black dust cascading diagonally down to the lower right. Distant stars dot the hazy background of space. Bright pink regions of star formation are interspersed throughout the dust.

Angled from the upper left corner to the lower right corner is a cone-shaped orange-red cloud known as Herbig-Haro 49/50. This feature takes up about three-fourths of the length of this angle. The upper left end of this feature has a translucent, rounded end. The conical feature widens slightly from the rounded end at the upper right down to the lower right. Along the cone there are additional rounded edges, like edges of a wave, and intricate foamy-like details, as well as a clearer view of the black background of space. In the upper left, overlapping with the rounded end of Herbig-Haro 49/50, is a background spiral galaxy with a concentrated blue center that fades outward to blend with red spiral arms. The background of space is speckled with some white stars and smaller, more numerous, fainter white galaxies throughout.

A massive spiral galaxy fills the image, with its bright yellow core seen near the upper left. Spiral arms whirl outward, laced through with dark brown dust and bright blue patches of star formation.

The image is divided horizontally by an undulating line between a cloudscape forming a nebula along the bottom portion and a comparatively clear upper portion. Speckled across both portions is a starfield, showing innumerable stars of many sizes. The smallest of these are small, distant, and faint points of light. The largest of these appear larger, closer, brighter, and more fully resolved with 8-point diffraction spikes. The upper portion of the image is blueish, and has wispy translucent cloud-like streaks rising from the nebula below. The orangish cloudy formation in the bottom half varies in density and ranges from translucent to opaque. The stars vary in color, the majority of which, have a blue or orange hue. The cloud-like structure of the nebula contains ridges, peaks, and valleys – an appearance very similar to a mountain range. Three long diffraction spikes from the top right edge of the image suggest the presence of a large star just out of view.

concerned about the state of the world because of two powerful men fighting? doomscrolling again?

stop. breathe. enjoy the universe for a brief moment

What keeps us writing when the industry feels broken? I spoke with Sean Murphy about hopeful despair, literary citizenship, and the joy of process—even mid-shampoo. 🎧 Listen in: bit.ly/4dNZgIV

Thanks!! I hope your revisions are going well.

So honored to be in Doreen’s list of Substacks! 🥰

When Your Grief Doesn’t Count: Finding Belonging After Sibling Loss Why I’m Giving Away Copies of The Loss of a Lifetime—and How Collective Stories Help Us Heal When the World Overlooks Our Pain

Sibling loss is often the grief that goes unseen. In my latest Substack, I share what it felt like to be the only sibling at a grief group after my brother’s suicide—and why I’m now giving away 6 copies of The Loss of a Lifetime. lisacooperellison.substack.com/p/when-your-...

#siblingloss #giveaway

🎙️ This week, I talk with Maha Mamish about Human Design & how it’s changing the way I write, coach, & live. Listen in 👉 bit.ly/3SstW8J #WritingCommunity #HumanDesign

Don’t Ruin the Mystery: How to Reflect in Memoir Without Giving It All Away | Jane Friedman What draws readers into your story is the mystery of how you achieved your transformation, so reflection must be handled carefully.

How much reflection does your memoir need? Will you ruin the mystery? @lisacooperellison.bsky.social at @janefriedman.com janefriedman.com/dont-ruin-th... #writingcommunity #memoir #storytelling #authorcommunity #skywriters

Thanks so much for sharing, Roz!

🎙️ New episode! Amy Fish joins me on the Writing Your Resilience podcast to discuss her 6-year journey of writing One in Six Million, a story of resilience, family, and finding light in the darkest places. Listen now! #WritingJourney #Memoir #Resilience bit.ly/4kzrMQJ

Thanks Eiren!!! I'm excited to share more about your story during next week's webinar.

It was so much fun to not just work on this post but to highlight the work of so many fantastic writers, including Sue William Silverman, @allisonlanda.bsky.social @kellymcmasters.bsky.social, @jennberney.bsky.social, @eirencaffall.bsky.social, Laura Cathcart Robbins, and so many others.

Don’t Ruin the Mystery: How to Reflect in Memoir Without Giving It All Away | Jane Friedman What draws readers into your story is the mystery of how you achieved your transformation, so reflection must be handled carefully.

✨ Memoir writing is all about reflection. In my latest post, I share strategies to help you analyze what you’ve written, uncover deeper meaning, and seamlessly weave reflection throughout your story. janefriedman.com/dont-ruin-th...

Join my webinar on May 28th! #MemoirWriting #Webinar

The Art of Reflection in Memoir with Lisa Cooper Ellison | Jane Friedman Learn how to master the art of reflection by incorporating your wisdom into your memoir without overwhelming it.

Join me on May 28, 2025, as I show you how to add reflections to your memoir and reveal the deeper meaning behind your story. 🔑 First Tip: Your opening sentences are more than a hook—they set the tone and reflect the meaning you’ve made from your experience.

👉 Sign up: bit.ly/3S58c2g

🎙️ Dive into memoir writing with Jennifer Leigh Selig on the Writing Your Resilience podcast! Learn how archetypes & depth psychology can transform your story into a powerful healing tool. ✨ Listen now: lisacooperellison.com/deep-memoir-... #MemoirWriting #HealingThroughStorytelling

Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist and author of "Writing that Gets Noticed," which was named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers Magazi... How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond | Estelle Erasmus | TEDxBostonCollege

Must-watch TEDx Talk for writers! Estelle Erasmus shares powerful storytelling insights that every writer can apply to their craft. Watch here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpcWmjpzSIQ] #Writing #Storytelling #Writers

Write. Rest. Repeat. Write. Rest. Repeat. Could you use some help with your writing? Do you crave clarity? Need to refresh the energy around your creative work? Is it time to reimagine your purpose? Your plans? Are you not sure what…

🔌 Losing creative energy without realizing it? Anne Carley’s latest blog post dives into “energy leaks”—the subtle drains on our reserves. Learn how to plug them for better creativity, productivity, and well-being. annecarleycreative.com/2025/04/15/i...

#CreativeWellness #SelfCare #Productivity

Writing Your Resilience with Lisa Cooper Ellison Podcast Episode · Before You Go · 28/04/2025 · 36m

Grief shows up in unexpected ways, but we get to choose how we show up for it! I had such a meaningful conversation with my dear friend Natalie on the Before You Go podcast. Don't miss it! 🌿 #Grief #Storytelling #Healing

Expect the Creative Process to Be Uneven and Messy – by Anne Carley… on Jane Friedman site: There will be little rubs and disappointments everywhere, and we are all apt to expect too much; but then, if one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if…

Expect the Creative Process to Be Uneven and Messy - by Anne Carley… thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2025/02/26/e...

🎙️In Ep. 68 of Writing Your Resilience, Kelly McMasters talks nonlinear memoir, grief, essays & revision magic. A must for memoirists! Listen here: bit.ly/4d07fSI #memoir #writingtips #podcast #resilience #writingcommunity #memoir #divorce

It’s been an absolute joy to work with you. ❤️

It was so much fun!! I LOVE Bearded Lady. It’s such a great book.

Still grinning from this firecracker of a convo with @allisonlanda.bsky.social 🎉💥
We talked weirdness, shame, bearded ladies, and the power of telling your real story.
So much wisdom. So much heart. So. Much. Gratitude.
🎧 Listen here: bit.ly/4cHdc6K
#WritingCommunity #MemoirMagic #GratitudePost

The Unseen Fight: Isolation, Eye Rolls, and Resilience — PAHS We welcome guest blogger, Meagan Justus. Meagan currently resides in Richmond, Virginia, where she’s on a quest to live her best life—one stubborn health challenge at a time. She writes about ...

So proud of my client Meagan Justus! 🌟 She’s written a powerful, thought-provoking piece on living with chronic illness and the many realities we don’t often talk about.

👉 Read it here: bit.ly/3Y9LLN0

#ChronicIllnessAwareness #MemoirWriting #WriterSuccess #Inspiration #ProudCoach

Woohoo! 🥳